You don’t know the stranger but as soon as a friend whispers an opinion, bandwagoners follow. For what justification: caution, agreement, or xenophobia? Groupthink may lead to a peace but the dictum may not always be just.

There are people you only meet once and then there are those you meet over and over again. Sometimes it’s necessary to move the judgment day back just a few more days or else you will miss out on what the world has to offer: a plethora of personalities.

And so I apologize to the friends who I listened to for not providing insight of my perception of the stranger. I apologize to the stranger for stealing the chance of a first-impression. And finally, I apologize to myself for not trusting my own judgment.